Railroad-signal.



E. GIBSON.

RAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1915'.

1,266,452. Patented Ma 14,191s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Evan 65.55am,

.E. ,GIBSON.

RAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23.1915

1,266,452. Patented May 14, 1918 2 S HEETS SHEET 2.

Ema/ tow EVAN GIBSON, 0F FOXHOME, MINNESOTA.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

Application filed November 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EVAN GIBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Foxhome, in the county of Wilkin and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railroad crossings and has particular application to a crossing signal.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a railroad crossing signal which will be actuated to danger position by the train as the latter approaches the crossing and which will be automatically restored to clear position when the train is on the crossing so that after the train leaves the crossing traffic on the highway or other trackway intersecting the railway may be resumed.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efliciency and durability, which will operate effectively for its intended purpose under all conditions, and wherein the component parts will be so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a crossing showing my improved signal installed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the trackway, showing the operating mechanism for the signal blade.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View through the same.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged perspective view of one of the actuating devices.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other device.

Referring now tothe drawings in detail, 1 designates a trackway, while 2 indicates a highway intersecting the trackway 1. Arranged upon one side of the trackway and disposed at one side of the highway is a standard 3 and pivoted upon the standard 3 adjacent to the upper end thereof is a signal blade 4 having the pivoted end thereof formed with an outwardly projecting arm arranged at an angle to the blade 4:-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Serial No. 63,038.

The blade 4: is normally disposed in vertical or clear position and is capable of movement tohorizontal or danger position.

Arranged transversely of the trackway 1 below the lines of rails thereof and journaled in suitably supported horizontally alining bearings is a shaft 6 and one end of the shaft 6 is provided with an arm 7 connected through the medium of a connecting rod 8 with the arm 5 on the blade 4 so that when the shaft is rotated in one direction the blade will be swung to danger position, while when the direction of rotation of the shaft is reversed the blade will be restored to normal or clear position. Suitably secured to the shaft 6 at diametrically opposite points and projecting upwardly and downwardly therefrom are arms 9, 9 respectively, while arranged at the opposite sides of the crossing are train controlled actuating devices 10 10, each embodying a vertical trip arm 11 pivoted between its ends as at 12 upon a block 13 carried by the web portion of the adjacent line of rails. The upper end of the trip arm 11 extends a slight distance above the rail tread and is adapted to be engaged by the flanges of the wheels of a train approaching the crossing so that the trip arm may be swung about its pivot 12, the lower end of each trip arm is bent outwardly toward the other rail as at 14: and then extended downwardly as at 15 and the downwardly projecting ends of the trip arms at the opposite sides of the cross ing are connected through the medium of chains 16, or other connecting devices, with the arms 9, 9 respectively so that the shaft will be revolved by the train approaching the crossing from either direction. The outwardly bent portions 14 of the respective trip arms are connected with the upper extremities of restoring springs 17 and the lower ends of the springs are fastened to suitable brackets 18 depending from the adjacent line of rails, the springs serving to maintain the trip arms in normal position and to restore the same to such position succeeding the operation thereof by the flanges of the car wheels. Arranged at the crossing in juxtaposition to the shaft K5 is a restoring plate 19 pivoted at one end as at 20 upon one line of rails and having the remaining end connected through the medium of a link 21 with the shaft 6. The upper edge of the plate 20 is adapted to be projected above the rail tread and in the path of the flanges of the car wheels so that the shaft may be revolved to restore the signal blade to normal or clear position when a train is on the crossmg. a

In practice, when a train approaches the crossing from either direction the corresponding trip arm 11 is swung against the action of the spring 17 to rotate the shaft 6 through the medium of chains 16 and in the rotation of the shaft 6, motion is transmitted to the signal blade to move the latter to danger position. YVhen the train reaches the crossing the plate 20 is actuated to revolve the shaft in the opposite direction and so restore the signal blade tonormal or clear position.

In the present instance, the outer end of the signal arm is equipped with a lamp 22 connected with a battery 23 or other source of electrical energy by means of a circuit 24 and located in the circuit 24 is a circuit closer 25 of any suitable construction under the control of the signal blade and adapted to be operated by the signal blade to close the circuit when the blade moves to danger position so that the lamp will be energized, and to open the circuit when the signal blade is restored to clear position.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way' of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine my self to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made Within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

-In a railway crossing signal, a signal blade capable of movement to danger and clear positions, a shaft,- connections between said shaft and blade whereby the blade may be actuated by the rotation of the shaft, train control-led. actu'ating devices at opposite sides of the crossing, each embody ing a trip arm pivoted intermediate its ends for swinging movement, one endof said arm being disposed in the path of the train,- the opposite end being offset, connections between the offset portions of each of saidarms and said shaft, whereby the latter maybe rotated to swing the signal blade to danger position by a train approaching the crossing from either direction, an L-shaped bracket secured beneath the offset end of each of the trip arms and springs connecting said brackets and offset portions,- wl1ich provide a protecting housing for said springs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

. EVAN GIBSON.

Witnesses:

H. L. SHIRLEY, MABEL ANDERSON.

copies a! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

